One World Echoes in London is a series of human rights film screenings supported by by the Czech Centre London. Celebrating the 15th anniversary of One World, Europe´s largest human rights film festival established in Prague in 1998 by the Czech NGO People in Need. This series offers a selection of extraordinary documentary films exploring societies and individual lives from a human rights perspective. Representing various countries where People in Need, the biggest NGO in Eastern Europe, runs its human rights, relief and development projects.
One World Echoes are co-organised by the Czech Centre London, Open City Docs Fest London 20-23 June 2013 and the Frontline Club.
Thursday 11 April 2013, 7:00 PM Frontline Club – Amazing Azerbaijan!
Amazing Azerbaijan! is a tale of two countries. A shiny democratic republic the government proudly puts on display for visiting journalists and dignitaries. Alongside a repressive and corrupt state with no respect for freedom of expression, where peaceful protesters are violently beaten and journalists are threatened or even killed. Followed by a Q&A with director Liz Mermin.
Friday 24 May 2013, 7:00 PM Frontline Club – Motherland or Death
For over fifty years Cuba has been following the battle-cry of the revolution, Patria o Muerte, which translates as Motherland or Death. Veteran Russian documentarian Vitaly Mansky centers on the generation born before the revolution. They are devoted to their motherland with heart and soul, yet curse the circumstances in which they are forced to live.
Wednesday 19 June 2013, 7:00 PM Frontline Club – Fortress BOOK NOW
Over twenty years after the collapse of the Soviet Union directors Klára Tasovská and Lukáš Kokeš travel back in time on their visit to the unrecognised Pridnestrovian Moldovian Republic. A separatist region within Moldova, with its own passports, an elected president and a legal system. This Open City Preview Screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Lukáš Kokeš.
Sunday 23 June 2013 2:30 PM Preview screening Open City Cinema Tent – Black Out BOOK NOW
Every evening during exam season in Guinea, hundreds of school children begin a nightly pilgrimage to the airport, petrol stations and wealthier parts of the city, searching for light. A literal and metaphorical journey to enlightenment, this evocative documentary tells how children reconcile their lives in one of the world’s poorest countries, with their desire to learn.
Sunday 23 June 2013 5:00 PM UK Premiere Open City Lighbox – Stone Games BOOK NOW
Do the Sudeten Germans who were tortured and killed during their expulsion at the end of the Second World War deserve a commemorative monument or not? In response to a stone monument in Nový Bor, Czech Republic a group of local inhabitants has unleashed a hate-filled ritual dance of national fervor and moral outrage that also turns out to be a sufficiently strong election issue.
From America they write that the population of the United States is 40 million and they publish 7,643 newspapers. However, in all Europe, Asia and Africa with several hundred million inhabitants, there aren’t so many newspapers. The reason is that the population of the country mentioned above is completely literate and they read newspapers every day. (The Cultivator, January 1, 1876)
America was a land of inventions then as well:
A writing machine is invented in America which looks like a piano. When you push its keys, each writes a separate letter. Reportedly, this machine writes much faster and better than handwriting. (The Cultivator, October 8, 1876)
America was also our fierce rival back then:
As no kerosene was imported from America this year, price of a pood of Baku kerosene has risen to six rubles and half. (The Cultivator, February, 1877)
What French newspapers wrote about America:
French newspapers report that something like a telegraph is invented in America which allows speaking [through it]. They have tested this telegraph as such: when one preacher in Boston started to talk, people of Salem, a city in a distance of 250 versts, could listen to him. Then the preacher heard back the cheers and applauds of the crowd. And now, music will be played in New York and people of Philadelphia, a city in a distance of 500 versts will listen and applaud. This equipment is called a telephone. (The Cultivator, April 28, 1877)
Perhaps this was the first time when broad Azeri public heard about telephone.
And most hilarious piece ever:
New York, America, 26 October – In American Republic, a person named Gilding[?] was elected the President (that is a ruler) for 4 years. They say the aforementioned person was a tailor. (The Cultivator, November 6, 1876)
Subsequent research has proved that this news was at least mock 
charges. Though many observers and law experts I met during trial considered the process actually won by defense lawyers who in turn, had caught state witnesses on perjury and contradictions and presented many substantial evidences such as these ones, Emin and Adnan received jail sentences of 2,5 and 2 years respectively. No rationale was offered to explain term difference.
The defense plans to appeal the verdict in higher instances till the European Court of Human Rights. International community has strongly condemned the case as political one and Amnesty International has already adopted the bloggers as "prisoners of conscience."
Emin Milli, 30, and Adnan Hajizade, 26, were assaulted and beaten while dining in a downtown Baku restaurant and then detained for hooliganism on early July this year.
Note: this piece was posted with a back date
]]>I clearly remember when he was elected – people were talking whether he could oust Ken Livingstone from the office, what an extravagant person would rule London, and how he was in fact of a Turkish descent – his great-grandfather or so was a top Ottoman official brought down from a train and lynched by an angry mob for his cooperation with the British.
Well, it seems that I am mistaken! Because, according to Azeri media, the Mayor of London Ian Luder is currently visiting Baku and holding meetings with government officials:
The Public Television of Azerbaijan reports that "Mayor of London is in Baku with official visit" – moreover, "the Mayor of London is accompanying representatives of fourteen leading companies in different fields of financial sector". Here is private Khazar TV reporting the news – "Mayor of London in Baku" and "The President has received the Mayor of London". And of course, Azeri Press Agency:
]]>“The United Kingdom and Azerbaijan value each other as a long-term partner”, said Mayor of London Alderman Ian Luder at the press conference on the results of his visit to Baku, APA reports.